Rocky Mountain Highlight

Economic sense—and nonsense—from the ballot initiatives in Colorado and around the country on Tuesday.

Updated Nov. 7, 2013 4:26 p.m. ET

Set aside New York City's new Cuba-loving mayor, or Chris Christie's presidential prospects. The most significant election result Tuesday may have been Colorado's overwhelming rejection of Amendment 66, which would have blown up the state's 4.63% flat income tax and opened the door to much bigger government.

The initiative was this year's main priority for progressives nationwide and was supported by $1 million each from New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and the Gates Foundation. Those billionaires fell for the line that the...